Bagrat Galstanyan
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Bagrat Galstanyan Primate of the Diocese of Tavush | |
|---|---|
 Galstanyan's official portrait in 2012 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | May 20, 1971 |
| Religion | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Citizenship | Canadian Armenian |
| Known for | 2024 Armenian protests |
| Senior posting | |
| Predecessor | Yeznik Petrosyan |
| Initiated | 20 June 2015 |
| Ordination | 1993 |
| Previous post | Primate of the Diocese of Canada |
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan (Armenian: Բագրատ արքեպիսկոպոս Գալստանյան; born May 20, 1971) is an Armenian theologian and a cleric of the Armenian Apostolic Church who is currently serving as primate of the Diocese of Tavush.[1] He also served as primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada based in Montreal.[citation needed]
Early life[edit]
Bagrat Galstanyan was born in Gyumri (then called Leninakan), Armenia on May 20, 1971, and was given the name Vazgen at his baptism.[citation needed] Having attended the Gevorgyan Seminary of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, he received the ordination of deacon in 1993 from Bishop Anania Arabajyan.[citation needed] In 1995 he received excellent mark for his thesis on “The Commendatory and Theology of Khosrov of Andzrev on Daily Prayers of our Church.”[citation needed] The same year the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin I, ordained Vazgen a celibate priest, in the name of Archbishop Bagrat Vardazarian, who had been martyred in 1937 repressions.[citation needed]
Church career[edit]
In 1995, while holding the position as director of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Sunday school in Holy Etchmiadzin, Bishop Bagrat was appointed as vice-president of the newly established Centre of Christian Education and Preaching.[citation needed] During this period, his responsibilities included the teaching of the Holy Liturgy, Church History and Theology and Armenian Church hymns, in the Gevorgyan and Vazgenyan Seminaries in Armenia.[citation needed]
In 1996 he became editor-in-chief of Etchmiadzin, a monthly official publication of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.[citation needed] Also, he was involved in the preparation of religious teachers in five regions of Armenia through the Christian Education and Preaching Centre.[citation needed] These included the American University of Armenia in Yerevan, and in the regions of Etchmiadzin, Armavir, Masis, Artashat, and Aparan. He was one of the founding members of “Gantegh” religious television programming.[citation needed]
From 1996 to 1998 Bishop Bagrat assisted Karekin I as secretary in his pontifical visits to South America, Moscow, the U.K., and Austria.[citation needed] In Austria, he participated, as a delegate, in the second Council of European Churches in Graz.[citation needed]
In 2000, upon the completion of his studies in England, Bishop Bagrat returned to Armenia where the Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin II appointed him as the principal of the Vaskenian Theological Academy (Armenian: Վազգէնեան Դպրանոց), in Sevan.[citation needed] At the seminary, he taught the Theology of Saint Paul, the Theology of Saint John the Evangelist, as well as Church History.[citation needed] Under his leadership, the Lousavorich (Armenian: Լուսաւորիչ) polyphonic choir was formed.[citation needed] Subsequently they produced two CDs: Arevagal in Geghard and Komitasian Holy Mass.[citation needed] The choir held concerts in Yerevan, and performed to audiences in Etchmiadzin, Sevan, and throughout Armenia.[citation needed] The Vaskenian Seminary also published its first annual theological magazine Sourp Arakelots (Armenian: Սուրբ Առաքելոց).[citation needed]
While at the Seminary, Bishop Bagrat introduced the subject of “Green Theology” for the first time in Eastern European and the former Soviet Republic and its churches.[citation needed] In cooperation with World Council of Church’s office in the Mother See “Round Table,” this subject was brought to the Seminary, and thus introduced to the Armenian Church.[citation needed]
In 2002 he received the rank of Vardapet for his thesis on “The Problem of the Sacrament of anointing the sick in the Armenian Church.”[citation needed] At this time Bagrat was appointed head of the newly founded department of Media, Relations and Communications of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.[citation needed] This position also included directorship of spiritual programming on Shoghakat TV television.[citation needed] Bagrat became the moderator on his own series, “To Know the Gospel” This series consisted of weekly sermons and commentaries on the New Testament, including numerous episodes of debates and discussions on religious topics.[citation needed] Bagrat Galstanyan has published numerous articles on theology, social, cultural spheres concerning Armenia, and the Armenian Church.[citation needed]
In 2002, he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Aragatsotn in Armenia.[citation needed] Bagrat founded a children’s dance group and choir in Oshakan, expanded and restructured the Christian Education Center, and established “Youth Computing Centers”.[citation needed] 17 monasteries and churches with their adjacent lands were re-obtained from the government in Ashtarak, Aparan and Talin which historically belonged to the Mother See, but were annexed by the previous Soviet regime.[citation needed] He acquired a day care, youth centre in Talin, under the spiritual guidance of the Diocese of Aragatsotn.[citation needed]
The General Assembly of the Canadian Diocese elected Galstanyan as Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada in May 2003.[citation needed] Subsequently, on June 22 of the same year, Karekin II elevated Bagrat to the rank of bishop, in the Cathedral of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, on the feast of Holy Etchmiadzin.[citation needed] Galstanyan lost the election for primate on May 25, 2013 and was replaced by Aren Jebejian.[2]
In 2015 Galstanyan was named the Primate of the Tavush Diocese by Karekin II and was named to the Supreme Spiritual Council in 2017.[3]
On February 17, 2023, Galstanyan was named archbishop by Karekin II.[3]
Education[edit]
On the recommendation of Karekin I in 1998, he was sent to England to study at the University of Leeds.[citation needed] He attended studies at the College of the Resurrection at Mirfield, at the same time assuming the position of visiting priest of Manchester’s Holy Trinity Armenian Church, until the year 2000.[citation needed] From 1996 to 2000 Bishop Bagrat was an active contributing member of the organizing Executive Committee of the celebrations for the 1700th. Anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia.[citation needed]
In November 2012 Bagrat Galstanyan completed his post-graduate studies at Concordia University and was awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Theological Studies.[citation needed] His area of study was, Theology and Bioethics, and his chosen thesis, The Health Care System in Armenia: The Historical, Social, and Theological Perspective: Past, Present, and Prospects.[4][5][non-primary source needed]
Honors[edit]
On January 6, 2013, in Montreal, Galstanyan was presented with the Diamond Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II.[citation needed] Alexandre Boulerice, Member of Parliament for the Rosemont, presented the medal on behalf of Thomas Mulcair, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Outremont.[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^ Տեր Բագրատ արքեպիսկոպոս Գալստանյան
- ^ "Very Rev. Aren Jebejian Elected Primate of Canada". The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Get to know Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of the Diocese of Tavush". 301.am. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ The Health Care System in Armenia
- ^ The Health Care System in Armenia (The Historical, Social and Theological Perspective; Past Present and Prospects)